Carpinteria Salt Marsh Herb Walk

On Sunday, July 30, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Ojai author-naturalist Lanny Kaufer will return to the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park, also known as El Estero, a rare salt wetland in Southern California. Nearly destroyed by development, the remaining estuary was restored in the late 1990s by a group of concerned citizens along with the City of Carpinteria, UCSB, and the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County. Completed in 1997, the 8-acre portion of the marsh owned by the City of Carpinteria was renamed the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park. This interpretive walk is presented under a permit from the City of Carpinteria.

The park includes walking trails and interpretive signage. It is home to hundreds of migrating birds and other wildlife, including exotic sharks, rays and native fish when conditions are right. Depending on the tide level Kaufer’s group may be able to see marine wildlife like the Guitarnose Shovelfish and Round Stingrays shown above in John Brant’s photo from an herb walk there in 2021.

There is a great variety of edible and medicinal plants of the Coastal Strand and Coastal Sage Scrub plant communities there to see and learn from. Useful native plants include Blue Elderberry, California Blackberry, Grindelia, Lemonade Berry, Mugwort, Pickleweed, Wild Rose, and Coastal Sagebrush.

Due to the sensitivity of the habitat, dogs are prohibited. No smoking, please.

Copies of Kaufer’s book, Medicinal Herbs of California, will be on hand for sale and signing before and after the walk.

REGISTRATION:
https://herbwalks.com/event/carpinteria-salt-marsh-herb-walk-3-2-2/

The cost for the walk is $35. Please be sure to use the REGISTER link on the event page at HerbWalks.com before clicking on the PayPal button to complete payment and secure your space. Note: Online payment includes a PayPal fee. If you prefer, when you register please ask for instruction for mailing a check for $35.

Photo of Shovelnose Guitarfish at Carpinteria Salt Marsh by John Brant